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Guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has had his hand in almost every aspect of the music business. Not only has he toured with Gun N’ Roses since 2006; he also been a producer, engineer and writer. And more recently, a survivor, having walked away from a serious auto accident last May. Thal used Twitter to thank Toyota for the "functional seat belt, air bags & crumple zone, you saved my skull ..."

Although it is impossible to catch every single guitar-tinged album that comes out in a given year, 2002 was so saturated with material -- some worthy, some not so much -- it was hard to remain concise.

For most, the term "progressive metal" brings guitar-school wankery to mind almost immediately. While vocalist/guitarist Paul Masvidal will be the first to tell you that he doesn't identify with the "progressive" or even the "metal" tag when it comes to Cynic's music, they are none the less one of the bands truly pushing metal into new and exciting territory.

Much loss was felt among the music community in 2002. It was, sadly, a year marred by the deaths of some of rock and roll's most talented visionaries. In March, Ozzy Osbourne/Motley Crue drummer Randy Castillo died of cancer, just two weeks before Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley succumbed to his addictions in his self-imposed exile at his Seattle condo. Founding Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone also died of a heroin overdose in June, as did Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby one day later.

Today's lick is the verse riff from the song "When You See My Friends," off the self-titled album by my band, May Day Parade. It's a laid-back chord melody figure that incorporates the use of hybrid picking (pick and fingers) and hammer-on and pull-off techniques. My guitar is in drop-D tuning, tuned down one half step (low to high, C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯).